Window-sash lock



V. McDOWELL.

WINDOW SASH LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED 050.20, 1919.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

Z 4 2 w y k x 4&5 z A. J W m .2 2 a J UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VERNON MCDOWELL, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

WINDOW-SASH LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 12, 1920.

Application filed December 20, 1919; Serial No. 346,276.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VERNON MCDOWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Nindow Sash Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to window sash locks, and has for one of its principal objects, the provision of a lock which can be manufactured and sold at a nominal cost, and one which can be readily and easily applied to the window to effectively prevent raising of the lower sash.

Another important characteristic of the invention, resides in the fact that the locking element is automatically operable, in that it is spring pressed to assume an active position when the lower sash of the window is moved to a closed position.

In carrying out the invention, I also provide means for limiting the movement of the locking element under the action of the spring to its active position the construction and arrangement of parts being such that the locking element can be readily and easily removed to its inactive position when it is desired to raise the lower sash without any binding between the component parts of the lock.

Other objects and advantages will appear when the following detail description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this specification like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a window showing the ock applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the window showing the lock in elevation and in position to lock the window sash against movement.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View through the window and lock showing the inactive position of the window, and the lower sash partly elevated.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the locking element.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the spring therefor.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates the upper sash of the window,-the lower sash beingindicated at 11. The lock forming the subject matter of my invention comprises a locking element 12, which is preferably in the form of an elongated member hinged as at 13 for outward swinging movement from the attaching plate 14 which is provided with openings 15 for the reception of suitable fastening elements 16 utilized in securing the lock in a vertical position upon one side rail of the upper sash 10. By reason of the hinged connection with the attaching plate 1 1, the locking element 12 is capable of assuming a position indicated in Fig. 2, wherein the lower end of the locking element overlies the adjacent rail of the lower sash to prevent the sash from being elevated. The locking element is given this position through the instrumentality of a spring 17 of a shape corresponding to the shape of the locking element 12 or slightly shorter than the latter. The spring 17 is provided with openings 18 adapted to register with the openings 15 of the lockingelement, so that the same fastening elements 16 utilized in securing the locking element in position are passed through the openings 18 to maintain the spring interposed between the locking element and the side rail of the sash 10 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The spring is tensioned to normally maintain the locking element in its active position, and to limit the outward movement of the locking element 12 under the influence of the spring 17, I provide a substantially L-shaped plate 19 which I have secured in any suitable manner, upon the upper edge of the adjacent rail of the lower sash 11. The locking element 12 at an appropriate point in its length is provided with an elongated slot 20 through which projects a lug or finger engaging member 21 formed on the spring 17 by locking the latter as at 22 and bending the material separated by the slot in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The purpose of this lug will be hereinafter described. The lower edge of the slot 20 formed in the locking element 12, is bent rearwardly as at 23 to provide an abutment for the adjacent or lower edge of the spring 17, the parts being in active position as shown in Fig. 2. This position permits the lower edge of the spring 17 to rest upon the abutment 23, an arrangement which prohibits the locking element 12 from being moved to an inactive position, until after the spring 17 is moved from the abutment 23. When it is desired to unlock the window, and allow the lowerwsash to. be ele vated, thethumb or finger of the operator is pressed against the lug 21, which projects an appreciable" distance through the slot as shown in Fig. 2. In this manner, the.

spring 17, is moved independently of the locking elementlQ, until the spring is separated from the abutment 28, and upon further movement of, the thumb or finger.

V i the locking element l2is moved to its inactiveposition in close proximity to the side railofthe sash 10.' The partsare held in.

this position until the lower sash of the window isslightly elevated in themannen shown in Fig. 3, in which position the lower sash serves, to holdithe locking element in its inactive position. In order that they lower sash may passthe, hinged joint 13 of th, z.locl;ingv element, the upper rail of the lower sash is cut away for a short distance asatQat, In order to -prevent thespring 17 from binding against the abutment 23, when the lug- 211 i'spressed, against to release the lower sash, I; provide an auxiliary. spring 25- which assists in separating said parts. This spring 25 formsan integral part of the springlY, being in the nature of a. strip defined w by cutting thebody of thespring in the manner illustrated, this spring 25 being; slightly curved-to bear against the adjacent sideof-the. lockingelement 12. Manifestly when the parts are arranged in he posit ni ustr ted in g he p ng 25 is placed under tensioH'So that when pressure is brought to bear against 'the lug 21 it ass1st s, in. moving the spring 17 out r? engagemtntwi hl he a utment 2s. The

loclr in its entirety, is extremely-simple in construction, andin additionto being very eflicient for the, purpose intended can. be

manufactured and marketed at a, nominal 21 lVhile it is believed that from the foregoingdescription the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that what is herein shown and described is merely illustrative, that I do not limit myself in this connection, and that such changes may be resorted to when. desired .as fall within the scope of what is claimed. 7 Having thus describedmy invention what I claim as new is.:+

1'. A window sash lock. comprising a looking; element pivotally mounted upon. the upper sash, a spring interposed between the sash and said element; to normally project the latter above the adjacent rail of the lower sash, an abutment carried by the element. and adaptecbtobe engaged by the free end of the spring whereby said element is maintained-in active position, means car-v ment of said element, anabutment carried. bysaid element for engagement with the. lower end of the spring to hold. saiclparts fixed relatively in active position, said ele-Y ment having a; slot, a finger engaging member carried by, the.- spr-ing and projecting through the slot to efiect the release of said.

sash, by; moving said. spring and=1ocking ele mentaway from. sald. abutment. In. test mony. whereof; I affix. my. signature.

' VERNONMQDOWELL. 

